Windows ME – Vendor CD, SU0173 Error – What do you do?

So, I needed to install a Windows ME VPC today. I have a Dell CD that has ME on it, so I figured I would use that, and then probably just use my MSDN key or maybe it wouldnt need one. Well it turned into a mini-ordeal.

If you set up a new Microsoft VPC image for ME, and put the CD in, it goes fine, gets to setup, and bam! – SU0173 Error.  Pretty much means,  “you cant use this cd on a pc that isnt by the OEM manufacturer of the computer”. So after a couple minutes digging, found this site which give more information.  I downloaded the precopy1.cab .

Then I download undisker – created an iso from the CD. Got magic ISO going, added precopy1.cab to the iso. Got Microsoft’s virtual cd rom tool, mounted a drive and pointed at my modified ISO. Set my VPC image to boot the newly created virtual cd rom from the ISO, and I would good to go. Now I can use good ol’ ME 🙂